Directory:Linear Combustion Electromagnetic Engines

From PESWiki

Index of designs and companies promoting designs in which a linear two-piston system drives magnets by induction coils to generate electricity, so that the output energy of combustion is electricity, not torque.

Companies

Free Piston Engine

High-Efficiency Generators for Hybrid Vehicles - An unconventional engine design is attracting attention as a potential alternative to hydrogen fuel cells or conventional engines in some hybrid vehicles. Called the free-piston engine, it could be used to generate electricity as efficiently as fuel cells yet cost less. (MIT Technology review; Sept. 30, 2008)

Pempek Systems

Free Piston Power Pack - The FP3 is a most efficient, low cost, elegant electric generator module of exceptional power density. Operation is based on 'free pistons' (unrestrained by con-rods or crank shaft) being driven back and forth inside cylinders by controlled internal combustion. Permanent magnets are attached to these pistons and move through stator coils, thus generating electric power.

Compression ratio and stroke, as well as exhaust valve timing and lift, are software controlled rather than through conventional mechanical means. The result is mechanical simplicity, unequalled efficiency and extremely low harmful emissions.

Czech Linear Combustion Engine project

The project is being developed at the department of Control engineering of the Czech technical university in cooperation with Josef Božek Research center of Engine and Automotive Engineering.

The Linear Combustion Engine - Researchers are developing a linear combustion engine, with two opposing pistons at either end of a cylinder. The design promises greater efficiency than rotary combustion engines, but it requires sophisticated control electronics to keep the system in check. Because the compression ratio can be variable, it will run on a wide variety of fuels. (EcoGeek; Mar. 17, 2007)

Sandia Laboratories

Sandia Laboratories is working on a linear ICE, a
"flying piston" engine. It is a homogeneous charge
compression ignition engine, HCCI, a new kind of
diesel engine. It has been demonstrated at 50%
efficiency, but has engineering design issues yet. It
aspirates air and fuel like a carbureted engine, yet
it is able, when conditions are right, to compress the
mixture without detonation before the time is right -
that is the key.

As I have heard about the Sandia research, it has been
tricky to get it right. If combustion occurs before
the right time, power is reduced and the engine
quickly stalls. With the free piston, no damage is
done, unlike the piston designs, where damage can be done. Early ignition in
a crankshaft piston engine can cause severe damage!

Stelzer

http://www.stelzer-motor.de/index.html (German) - A linear combustion design that is - according to their website - ready for production. Stelzer's linear motor was developed in the 80's and has been described by Nieper in one of his books. The site is in German but with lots of illustrations and an animation on the working of the motor. The site is one of those old static types, and it's all made in image form, so automatic translation algorithms don't work on it.

The following page: http://www.stelzer-motor.de/lineargenerator.html shows that he also thought to use the motor as a linear generator. It is only a question of attaching an external linear generator, which is driven by the motor's oscillations of the piston.

Here is a design of how the motor could be used as a generator for a hybrid car.

This other page instead http://www.stelzer-motor.de/hydrodynamic.html shows the use of the motor to drive a turbine (to change the oscillatory motion into a rotary one) by using a hollowed-out piston, which would impel a liquid to run a turbine.

The particular advantage of the motor is that it has only one moving part. No valves are needed.

It seems to me that the inventor, who is now 73 years old, is not very active in pushing the motor, not having had any requests and no positive feedback for years. He says the motor is ready for production, but has not found anyone who would be interested in producing it and putting the invention to good use.

On March 23, 2007. Branko Jermanis wrote:

Nikola Tesla and my thoughts has Tesla's style (turbine) motor. Modification like this, can be simple, long working, and high power machine.

Non-Electric Output Linear Combustion Engines

Kazimierz Holubowicz

Gun Engine - Canadian inventor, Kazimierz Holubowicz, has come up with an environmentally friendly and transmission-free engine based on the same mechanics as how a bullet is shot from a gun. Initial test results showed 92% efficiency.

Ship

"From memory horizontally opposed two piston engines were in use aboard ship in the late '60's and I seem to remember that one type could work on coal dust. Has anyone done any desk research on this?" -- Andrew [Ferrand] Stobart